The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-12-01


on these subjects during his controversy
with Col. Cumming were collected and
published under the title "the Crisis" by
General, afterwards Governor, james
Hamilton, and a number of the papers
were sources of great annoyance to him
in after years when he changed his poll.
tics.
In December, 1881, McDuffie took his
seat in Congress, and it was in that body
that he reached the height of his fame.
It vas about this time that he changed
his political views, Influenced, it is said,
by the great nullifer, John G. Calhoun,
and from being fierce advocate of the
consolidation of the States, he became
fercer champion of notification and
State sovereignty. There is no doubt,
however, that this change was an honest
one, although through his whole political
career, McDulie acted in such manner
as to cause his enemies to charge him
with allowing Calhoun to dictate his
course. Soon after the beginning of his
Congressional career, the fight over the
tariff vas begun, and McDuffie threw
himself with all the vigor of his intellect
into the fore front of the free traders, and
fought increasingly against the imposi-
tion of the protective tariff. In the Null
LITIGATION Convention of 1882, he was one
of the most fercy of the leaders, and the
address to the people Of the United States
published by that body was prepared by
McDufie. He was much incensed at the
compromise of the tariff question effected
by Calhoun and Clay, and it was with
great reluctance that he consented to the
RECESSION of the Notification Ordinance.
In 1884 McDufie withdrew from Con-
gress and was in December of the same
year elected Governor of South Carolina.
While Governor, in bis ex oficio
capacity as Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the South Carolina College,
he did much to revive the college from
the languishing condition in which the
infdel administration of President
Cooper had cast it, by causing a thorough
reorganization of the faculty.
At the expiration of his term Of Office,
Governor McDuffie retired to private
life until in 1912, when he vas elected 10
represent South Carolina in the United
StatesSenate. Heappeared, however, at
disadvantage in the Senate. The wound
received years before in the duel with
Colonel Cumming had had the effect of
shattering his health, and with his failing
constitution his mind had become some
what enfeebled. This did not, however,
prevent him from taking an active part
in the proceedings of that body, although
age and in6rmities had greatly curtailed
the vigor and brilliaucy of his intellect.
BE was very active in securing the
passage of the sub,Treasury bill,
and the bill for the annexation of
Texas. The vigor with which he worked
for the adoption of these measures, might
be considered as somewhat remarkable,
when we remember that but q feH years
before he denounced their passages in
unmeasured terms. While Governor of
South Carolina, he denounced the strug-
Cling young Republic of Texas in what
Thomas II. Benton has styled a "cold
blooded message" In 1916 McDaffies
rapidly failing health necessitated his
resigning his seat in the Senate, and he
retired once more to private life. His
death occurred on the 18th Of March,
1851, in Sumter district, while he was on
a visit to his wife's family. In 1929
McDufie was married to Miss Mary
Rebecca Singleton, a daughter of Colonel
Richard Singleton, of Sumter district.
Miss Singleton was a beautiful and
accomplished woman, and wss great
society belle. 1t is said that the famous
lawyer and poet, Warren R. Davis, was
at one time much enamored of this lady,
who, however, gave her hand to Davis
warmest friend, McDuflie. Davis
although very fond Of the society of the
fair sex, was never married, and his re-
naming bachelor is said to have been
due to the disappointment he met with
in this efaire du ceeur. Gov. Perry
relates an anecdote of where Davis
declined an invitation to visit the family
of Col. Singleton because he knew
McDufie would be present, and he could
not bear meeting with his old love in
the presence OF her future husband. But
McDufie's married life ewas brief. In the
following year, 1880, his wife died, leav-
ing one child, daughter, who after
wards became the wife of the present
Senator Wade Hampton. Both Governor
McDuffie and his wife are buried side by
side in the Singleton family burying
ground near the Waterec river, in lower
Sumter county. A handsome monument
has been erected over McDufie's grave,
and on it is carved in relief profile of
the great statesman's feature, but, as the
inscription on his tomb declares, "The
history of his country is the monument
of his fame" The features on the mon
ment have been described as follows :
ga splendid forehead, an eye somewhat
deep set, a large nose, strong. looking and
well.formed, and lips, which, although
carved on cold marble, have about them
marked expression, and show that they
were made to pour forth streams of spark.
ling, burning eloquence."
In speaking of McDuffie's eloquence
Thomas II. Benton has said that he was
equal to Demosthenes in bis prime, and
Governor Perry adds that "he could stir
up the human heart, and excite the feel
;ncs and nassions. as few public speakers